Fox Lake, Illinois
Template:Geobox Fox Lake is a village in Grant Township, Lake County, Illinois and Richmond Township, McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 9,178 at the 2000 census.
History
The village was founded in 1907. The area was first explored during the 17th century by French settlers. In the late 19th century it was known as Nippersink Point.[1] Early in the 19th century there were but a few hundred residents; but, during the summer season the population would reach an estimated 20,000 people, and at its peak, the area had 50 hotels and 2,000 cottages.[2] Infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone allegedly utilized an establishment now known as the Mineola Hotel and Restaurant as a hideout. In 1979 the Mineola was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and may be the largest wooden frame structure in the state.[3]
Many Chicagoans establish summer homes in Fox Lake. The village is situated among the Chain O'Lakes, a great place to swim, boat, jet ski, and go tubing and boarding. In 2006, there was an estimated 28,000 registered boats on the chain belonging to residents (including summer residents) and 'weekend warrior' boaters.[4]
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The original Mineola Hotel
Village Government
"Fox Lake incorporated under a Village form of government, with an elected village president, six trustees, and a village clerk. The village president is also recognized as the mayor."[5] The table below is a list of mayors from the village's inception in 1907 to 2005
Mayor's Name | Date(s) | Mayor's Name | Date(s) |
---|---|---|---|
John Brown | 1907–1913 | C.H. Ostrander | 1913–1914 |
Harry A. Maypole | 1915–1917 | William C. Nagle | 1917–1921 |
Ernest Hummel | 1921–1923 | Louis Deproft | 1923–1929 |
George Hollister | 1929–1931 | Arthur J. Amundsen | 1935–1949 |
Carl E. Erickson | 1949–1953 | Albert E. Hoffmeyer | 1953–1957 |
Joseph Armondo | 1957–1961 | Marius "Boosie" Olsen | 1961–1965 |
Joseph Armondo | 1965–1975 | John Hodge | 1976–1978 |
Richard "Butch" Hamm | 1978–1985 | Ken Hamsher | 1985–1989 |
Frank Meier | 1989–1993 | William Dam | 1993–1997 |
Jim Pappas | 1997–2001 | Nancy Koske | 2001–2005 |
Geography
Fox Lake is located at 42°24′03″N 88°10′37″W / 42.400750°N 88.176975°W (42.400750, -88.176975).Template:GR
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23.3 km2), of which, 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2) of it (18.15%) is water.
Major Streets
- Wilmot Road
- State Park Road
- Grass Lake Road
Grand Avenue
- Rollins Road
- Big Hollow Road
- Nippersink Road
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 9,178 people, 4,046 households, and 2,330 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,249.1 people per square mile (482.1/km2). There were 4,652 housing units at an average density of 633.1 per square mile (244.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.49% White, 0.76% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.80% of the population.
There were 4,046 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $46,548, and the median income for a family is $58,843. Males have a median income of $42,009 versus $29,063 for females. The per capita income for the village is $24,350. 6.4% of the population and 4.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.2% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Notable residents
- Alexander Joseph McGavick, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse
- Al Capone, gangster and bootlegger who often vacationed in Fox Lake during the 1920s
Education
- Grant Community High School (9-12)
- Stanton Elementary School (K-8)
- Big Hollow Elementary School Big Hollow School District 38 (K-8)
- Saint Bede School (K-8)
References
- ^ Paul J. Jakstas, Postcard History Series: Fox Lake (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing Co., 2006), 9
- ^ Paul J. Jakstas, Postcard History Series: Fox Lake, 7
- ^ Jakstas, Postcard History, 2006, 37
- ^ Jakstas,2006
- ^ 1907-2007: Illinois: Fox Lake (Fox Lake-Grant Township Area Historical Society, 2007), 24